You’ve arrived!

You made it through the lines and long hours of travel, and now you’ve arrived at your vacation destination. How are you feeling? Exhausted? Good? Or, a combination of the two? Or, something else?

When we take our illness on the road, our experience is a bit different from that of our fellow travelers who might be more physically “able.” We need extra hours of rest, more attention to our diet and environment, and, sometimes, stretches of space and time when we can revive our drooping selves (much like a plant that’s placed in new soil).

Yes, we know we need special attention…but how do we do that when we’re surrounded by others who want to “get up and go” from dawn to dusk? Or, who believe that a vacation means all good/high energy and nothing low-key or reminiscent of the problems supposedly left behind at home?

In my previous post on “Illness on the Road,” I suggested packing all of the relaxation and prayer tools possible, along with the tangible health-related things like medications, insurance cards, etc. We need these for our own purpose, and also to manage our relationships with others as we proceed on our vacation. We have to be strong advocates, even on vacation, and understand that what we do even on vacation will impact our health well beyond. Want a good vacation? Do what is good on vacation.

Graceful advocacy, firm and gentle insistence on the rest and other things we need – these will enable vacation to be truly blessed for us, as well as others. And in allowing ourselves good things on vacation – good rest, good times, good fellowship, and good tending to our spirits and bodies – we’ll reap many benefits well into winter and on to the next vacation!

Blessings for the day – and the road!

Maureen